Sparks in Time Episode 3: August 1914
On May 11, 2020 by adminAugust 1914
On the evening of August 4, 1914, Sir Edward Grey stood at his window at Whitehall. He famously quipped, “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime”. The Foreign Secretary’s remark has since become one of the most well-known quotes of the time. It captured both the mood from Whitehall and was a harbinger of the horrific war and consequences that would ensue.
Academics have devoted entire careers to unpacking those early days of August 1914. Over a century later, the road to war may seem as though it were inevitable, but a close study of the time reveals the steps (and mis-steps) that plunged a world into war. It reveals a path to war that would be impossible to replicate and a war was anything but inevitable.
In the early days of August 1914, a series of ultimatums defined the road to war. Austria issued an ultimatum to Serbia, Germany to Belgium, and France unexpectedly drew back from its borders. This move would force Germany to be the first to invade a sovereign nation. The final domino to fall was England, who reluctantly decided to issue its own ultimatum to Germany. This series of actions set the world on a path to an unimagined 20th century.
The Lamps Are Going Out…
“One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans.” – Otto von Bismark, 1888
On June 28, 1914, Serbian nationalists assassinated the Austrian heir-apparent, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Almost a month later, Austria issued an ultimatum to Serbia. This was the first in a series of events that defined the road to war. The terms of this ultimatum were untenable. They required Serbia to relinquish national sovereignty and left no door open to avoid war. Within a week, Austria declared war on Serbia and Russia mobilized in support of Serbia. Germany, aligned with Austria, issued its own ultimatum to Russia to demobilize. And when unanswered on August 1, Kasier Wilhelm II declared war on his cousin, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Days later another cousin, King George V of Great Britain, would send his own armies to war.
That domino effect, sparked in part by Austria’s ultimatum, continued across the continent. At the time, Europe was aligned by a series of treaties designed to keep a tenuous peace. With France aligned with Russia and England, Germany’s decision to declare war on Russia had resounding effects. Complicating the matters further, Germany postured its military for an invasion of neutral Belgium. And during this time period, England had sworn to protect a defenseless Belgium—a creation of its own policy. In the end, Sir Edward Grey evoked this sworn protection in his speech to a combined Parliament, to rally support for what would become London’s own ultimatum to Germany: Do not invade Belgium.
And thus, the war to end all wars began. By the time the belligerents signed the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, combined casualty rates were astounding.
…We Shall Not See Them Lit Again in our Lifetime
The horror of the war cannot be adequately summarized in any cursory discussion, but a look at the casualty figures provides some context. Among the four main belligerents—the British Empire, Russia, France and Germany—the total number of those killed in action totals almost six million. This does not include the wounded. Each of those nations lost almost an entire generation of men and the ramifications of the peace that followed set the stage for the next world war.
Every aspect of society changed following the war. Entire societal structures collapsed. Major economies collapsed. For a war that many predicted would be over in a matter of months, the entirety of Europe was profoundly and forever changed.
Warfare changed as well. Artillery. Tanks. Avation. Weapons of mass destruction. All of these areas of warfare were evolved or developed over the course of war, and had profound effects on warfare and strategy in future decades.
These consequences make Sir Edward Grey’s remarks all the more haunting.
On Writing
So how does one go about capturing this time period in literature? The topic is so immense, so nuanced, and so intricately woven into the world we know today. Even for those writing on more recent conflicts, it is important to understand this time period and its effects on future events. This makes the topic challenging, but also easily accessible.
Tips and Techniques
Themes
Because the topic is so vast, a good approach for writing historical fiction about this “road to war” time period could be to focus on theme. What general themes are you conveying in your writing? What challenges will your characters encounter and how do you envision they will resolve them?
Focusing on specific themes in your writing may help you to determine which details and facts you want to include, and avoid presenting a reader with a well-researched (but not very digestible) recounting of historic fact. Concentrating on themes will also help you to hone your research and understand what historic events should be incorporated into your writing and which are not necessary. If the event does not help you to address your themes, it can oftentimes be left out.
The good news is, unlike some writing projects, there will be no shortage of references on this topic.
Research and Works in Progress
I found it useful to read multiple comprehensive works on the Great War—the lead up to the conflict, the conflict itself, and the aftermath. And then, I pursued more focused reading on the specific events that would affect my story. This allowed me to conduct detailed research on aspects where I needed to convey with authority.
My current series focuses on the early days of the Great War. The Shadows in Drab and Green series begins with White Dove, set as England considers the question of war. I even include a chapter that depicts Sir Edward Grey’s speech to Parliament, from the perspective of one of my characters, who is present for the speech. I included this in the book because I wanted to convey how divided England’s upper class was on the subject of war, and I do this through a conflict between father and son.
In this example, the father, a Parliamentarian, is against war but is persuaded by Sir Edward Grey’s speech that England must consider its own honor when it comes to the question of Belgium. The son, who will inherit his father’s seat, is keen to go to war for all the reasons that the growing conflict mesmerizes the younger generation: adventure, relief from boredom, challenge. I use Grey’s speech to bring out this conflict between father and son, but also to present the political views of the day and just how divided England’s politicians were over war (and a host of other issues as well, such as the Irish question).
As I continue to write historical fiction from this time period, my reading and research never ends. I am constantly looking for materials on specific battles, technologies, and first-hand accounts of daily life. It has become a hobby.
Recommended Reading
The Guns of August: The Outbreak of World War I, by Barbara Tuchman. It almost goes without saying that my number one recommended read for the road to war in Europe is Tuchman’s classic work. Anyone who wants to understand this time period from the perspective of the major belligerents must pick up a copy of this Pulitzer Prize winning book. It includes so many interesting details and context and is a must-read. I’ve read it cover to cover multiple times and have even listened to the audiobook version as a refresher.
The Marne, 1914: The Opening of World War I and the Battle that Changed the World by Holger Herwig. I’ve found it helpful to try to unpack the war by learning about specific campaigns and how they created the war that emerged. In this book, Herger goes into great detail on the first military campaign involving the German, French and British armies. It’s a very comprehensive look at the battle itself, the military leadership, and the strengths, weaknesses and blunders of the armies. A word of caution: if you are into audiobooks like I am, it might be useful to pick up a hardcopy for the great maps and references.
Landmarks of Interest
Whitehall– This half-mile stretch of road in the City of Westminster is the center of government in the UK. Downing Street, Cabinet Offices, the Ministry of Defence, Cabinet offices, Scotland Yard…all of these offices can be found along this (quite scenic) stretch of the A3212. The Cabinet Offices in particular, are where British political leadership debated the precarious steps that led England to war in August 1914.
Commonwealth Cemeteries in Belgium. The British casualties in World War I were so astounding that the dead were buried where they fell and not repatriated. The result of this is many beautifully landscaped Commonwealth cemeteries, with their own curators, scattered throughout Belgium and France. Each one of them is a peaceful place of remembrance and receives thousands of visitors each year. I have frequented many of the cemeteries in Belgium as part of the American Overseas Memorial Day Association ceremonies (which honor US servicemembers buried in Belgium). These cemeteries are scattered throughout western Belgium. I highly recommend stopping by a few of them if you are in the region.
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